NBCSN shows a rare early season game with a Canadian-based team. Of course, that team is still the Montréal Canadiens in what will likely be a Comcast Sportsnet Chicago, er, NBC Sports Chicago simulcast (minus Eddie Olczyk) on Tuesday.
The NHL Network will carry the Rogers Sportsnet One feed of Hometown Hockey from Niagara Falls as the Montréal Canadiens travel to Madison Square Garden. The channel will also have the Chicago franchise in Toronto Monday night. That could also be a NBC Sports Chicago simulcast.
CBC starts its season with an Original 6 game with the New York Rangers for the Toronto Maple Leafs home opener. The first late game will be an all-Canadian matchup with the Edmonton Oilers in Vancouver for the Canucks season opener.
City TV may be more of a force this season with a Saturday doubleheader. City draws the Canadiens in the U.S. capital early and an all-Canadian game with the Winnipeg Jets in Calgary. The only other time City was used for a late game was November 28, 2015 when the Ottawa Senators were in the desert.
Rogers Sportsnet only has a Wednesday night game thanks to the MLB playoffs with the New Jersey Devils at the Air Canada Centre.
Rogers Sportsnet One also steps in on Saturday night with the Detroit Red Wings in the Canadian capital.
Since the Hometown Hockey game is the only NHL game on Sunday, the NHL Network offers several rebroadcasts of the game.
NBCSN
Tuesday
Chicago @ Montréal, 7:30p
NHL Network
Sunday
Montréal @ NY Rangers, 7p
Monday
Chicago @ Toronto, 7p
Tape delayed
Monday Montréal @ NY Rangers, 7a
Tuesday Chicago @ Toronto, 3p
Wednesday Chicago @ Montréal, 2p
Thursday Calgary @ Los Angeles, 2p
CBC
Saturday
NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p
Edmonton @ Vancouver, 10p
City
Saturday
Montréal @ Washington, 7p
Winnipeg @ Calgary, 10p
Rogers Sportsnet
Wednesday
New Jersey @ Toronto, 7:30p
Rogers Sportsnet One
Saturday
Detroit @ Ottawa, 7p
Sunday
Montréal @ NY Rangers, 7p
NHL Center Ice
Saturday
NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p
Detroit @ Ottawa, 7p
Montréal @ Washington, 7p
Edmonton @ Vancouver, 10p
Winnipeg @ Calgary, 10p
Monday
Winnipeg @ Edmonton, 9p
Calgary @ Anaheim, 10p
Tuesday
Ottawa @ Vancouver, 10p
Wednesday
New Jersey @ Toronto, 7:30p
Calgary @ Los Angeles, 10:30p
Thursday
Winnipeg @ Vancouver, 10p
---
The NHL Center Ice free preview reportedly runs through October 10. If that is correct, that is a horrendous call. The NHL is turning 100 and has some momentum. However, moves such as not going to the Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea and a harsh limited preview do their best to destroy that momentum.
For those who don't know, the NHL Center Ice free preview to start the season usually runs 3 weeks. You could argue that MLB only has a week for a free preview to start the season. The NHL really needs that exposure, especially since the beginning of the season competes with the MLB playoffs.
If someone wants to pay for my NHL Center Ice package, I will gladly take your money. Otherwise, we will rely on the highly limited exposure offered by NBCSN, NBC, and the NHL Network.
We will leave up the Wednesday and Thursday games just in case. Check this story for schedule updates later in the week.
---
In turning 100, we are reminded that the NHL used to make a big deal out of the first night. Dundas Square in Toronto would have a celebration. In 2014, The Tragically Hip played at Dundas Square to help kick off the season.
Daren Millard and Doug MacLean are snoozers on Wednesday Night Hockey. Opening Night should be in the hands of Ron MacLean and the regular Saturday night team.
Seeing Louie DeBrusk on opening night and Glenn Healy being MIA feels very backward. Given the TSN broadcasting needs in the off-season and NBC's temporary and permanent needs for colour analysts, still shocked Healy isn't in one of those roles.
DeBrusk is solid in his analysis and would be an asset if he were working for NBCSN. As a replacement for Mike Johnson, by comparison, DeBrusk won't say anything significant. We've argued that Drew Remenda makes more sense as a HNIC analyst and DeBrusk as a fill-in on Oilers telecasts to help out Remenda's schedule.
In the CBC days, the opening night also got a dose of Coach's Corner. Whatever you might think of Don Cherry, he deserves a role in the opening night.
Comments